10,000 truancy convictions in a year

RECORD numbers of parents are being convicted for allowing their children to play truant from school, new figures reveal.

PUBLISHED: 07:45, Tue, Jan 8, 2013

Around 56,000 pupils in state primary and secondary schools skip lessons each day

Almost 10,000 were given a criminal record in 2011 - a five-fold increase over the past decade.

The Ministry of Justice figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show 12,777 parents in England and Wales were taken to court over their child's truancy.

Of these, 9,836 were found guilty and sentenced - a rise of 7.5 per cent on the previous year. Most of the parents convicted were fined but some received community service while 11 parents were jailed.

In the past 10 years, 153 parents have received prison sentences for their children's truancy.

Magistrates gained new powers to deal with parents of absent children in 2000, when the maximum fine rose from £1,000 to £2,500.

Around 56,000 pupils in state primary and secondary schools skip lessons each day without permission.